Manager, Business Information Systems

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Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Description Summary
Business Information Systems (BIS) is tasked with providing comprehensive and sustainable IT solutions for our clients. Our focus is on developing, implementing and maintaining a wide range of applications and underlying infrastructure that meet the unique needs of each client.

The Manager provides operational management and technical leadership for a suite of service offerings within a single reporting unit.

The position manages and mentors staff in the day-to-day performance of work, participates in the development of resource plans, and provides technical leadership within various product and service lines. The Manager will lead various concurrent projects and participate as a member of a project team, committee or workgroup.

This position provides leadership in the design, selection, or application of information systems to satisfy the business requirements of UBC. This position also acts as a subject matter expert, and provides operational project management, business process analysis, systems support coordination, and applications lifecycle management.
Organizational Status
This position reports to the Senior Manager of Business Information Systems and provides direct and indirect supervision to staff within the BIS portfolio. This position works closely with technical staff to leverage common approaches and resources between departments. This position also liaises with technical staff and management from other University departments and represents the portfolio to other universities, external federal, provincial and local government agencies, granting agencies and trading partners to facilitate effective business solutions and to meet regulatory requirements.
Work Performed
Specific Duties:
- Assesses variances from project plans, budgets and schedules, develops and implements changes as necessary to ensure that the project remains within specified scope and is within time, cost, and quality objectives, and keeps management aware of the situation.
- Leads the assessment of client needs utilizing a structured requirements process (gathering, analyzing, documenting, and managing changes) to identify business priorities and recommends options.
- Acts as a Project Manager and/or provides ad-hoc subject matter expertise. Regardless of the project role, the Manager is expected to maintain an overview of the status of all projects within their purview.
- Oversees application lifecycle and applies and follows appropriate change management methodologies and best practices.
- Performs formal system infrastructure audits and develops written systems procedures, standards and practices to ensure a high level of availability, security, data integrity and hardware/software compatibility.
- Monitors help desk activity ensuring that trouble calls and support requests are appropriately dealt with in a timely and effective fashion.
Core Duties:
- Works with business partners and/or IT leadership to understand and anticipate business and IT project needs of a reporting unit.
- Develops strategies, operating plans, performance measures/targets for a reporting unit and leads the day-to-day delivery of its programs, services and activities.
- Administers unit budget and ensures for cost efficiencies.
- Develops, implements, and ensures adherence to procedures, methods, standards and controls to foster operational efficiency, monitor compliance, mitigate risks, and achieve unit results.
- Negotiates for, sources and obtains financial, physical, or human resources to support short-term projects and programs.
- Develops and implements innovative service, business solutions, and programs , provides technical leadership and oversight on projects, and collaborates with others on integrated solutions and initiatives across other administrative/academic areas.
- Develops influential working relationships across the organization, including with internal and external key customers and stakeholders.
- Develops, mentors, and manages reporting Team Leads, professionals and other staff including selection, training, coaching, performance management and all other people practices.
- Manages the staff performance assessment process. Reviews performance assessment feedback and conducts regular meetings with direct reports and all staff.
- Provides career planning advice to staff and creates development plans to help staff achieve their career goals including assigning work which leverages their skills and capabilities and provides them with opportunities for learning.
- Manages performance concerns and disciplinary action in collaboration with HR and, where applicable, a Senior Manager or Director. May provide or Provides guidance to Team Leads on more complex performance concerns and disciplinary actions
- Anticipates and analyzes trends in technology and assesses the impact of emerging technologies on the business.
- Maintains appropriate professional designations and up-to-date knowledge of current information technology techniques and tools.
- Performs other related duties as required.
Consequence of Error/Judgement
Effective application lifecycle management is essential for UBC IT to deliver services across campus. Decisions and actions taken by the incumbent will have a direct impact on how efficiently and effectively UBC systems perform and function.
Failure to meet service level obligations for performance and availability of Applications could adversely impact the University community, including the large majority of students, faculty and staff, and could cost millions of dollars in lost productivity, funding and revenue. It will also risk damaging the reputation of UBC IT and the University as a whole.
Supervision Received
Works with complete latitude within general policies and an administrative framework. Work is reviewed in terms of achievement of specific objectives. The Manager receives operational direction from the Senior Manager, Business Information Systems and strategic direction from the Director of Application Management Services.
Supervision Given
Manages staff directly and oversees deliverables assigned to Contractors and other individuals on a project basis.
Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of eight years of related experience including at least two years of managerial experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
Preferred Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in Computer or Applied Science preferred.
• Minimum of two years of managerial experience in an information systems and technology related role.
• Ability to coach and mentor staff, while acting as a hands-on senior technical resource.
• Ability to support staff in career planning and creating development plans to help them achieve their goals. May involve assigning work which leverages staff skills while providing valuable learning opportunities.
• Substantial experience implementing, integrating and supporting a wide range of third-party applications.
• Expert Knowledge of Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems, server/network environments and hardware.
• Experience managing Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase and Microsoft Access database platforms.
• Knowledge of application development tools and scripting languages.
• Working knowledge of Project Management and Business Analysis methodologies and tools.
• Ability to plan, organize, manage, monitor, complete, and evaluate projects within allocated time and resources allocations.
• Ability to develop and deliver effective presentations and workshops.
• Ability to create accurate, clear, and comprehensive software and business documentation.
• Experience interacting with both technical and non-technical clients.
• Excellent communication, presentation and documentation skills.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities and work under pressure to meet critical, time sensitive deadlines.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail.

Core Competencies
 

Collaboration - Consistently fosters collaboration and respect among team members by addressing elements of the group process that impedes, or could impede, the group from reaching its goal. Engages the right people within and beyond organizational boundaries, by matching individual capabilities and skills to the team s goals. Works with a wide range of teams and readily shares lessons learned and credit for team accomplishments.
Communication for Results - Converses with, writes reports for, and creates/delivers presentations to all levels of colleagues and peer groups in ways that support problem solving and planning. Seeks a consensus with business partners. Debates opinions, tests understanding, and clarifies judgments. Brings conflict into the open empathetically. Explains the context of multiple interrelated situations, asks searching, probing questions, and solicits expert advice prior to taking action and making recommendations.
Problem Solving - Diagnoses problems using formal problem-solving tools and techniques from multiple angles and probes underlying issues to generate multiple potential solutions. Proactively anticipates and prevents problems. Devises, facilitates buy-in, makes recommendations, and guides implementation of corrective and/or preventive actions for complex issues that cross organizational boundaries and are unclear in nature. Identifies potential consequences and risk levels. Seeks support and buy-in for problem definition, methods of resolution, and accountability.
Leading Self - Adapts approach without feeling own agenda or outcomes have been compromised. Challenges inefficient/ ineffective work processes and offers constructive alternatives. Analyzes work errors, successes and failures and sets learning strategies to rectify and increase knowledge. Ability to adapt to changing workload priorities, effectively reprioritizing or deferring tasks in line with operational and strategic goals.
Leading Others - Regularly provides constructive feedback and recognition to team members regarding job performance and works with them to identify work goals and create individual development plans. Identifies, mentors, and raises the profile of future high performers and leaders. Determines best approach and mediates conflict between individuals and groups.
Leading the Organization - Develops a clear service plan that outlines the outcomes, key steps, responsibilities and expected time lines for completion to reach unit goals and further the organization and the University s objectives. Communicates a collective purpose, creates a clear line of sight to the organization s value proposition, and ensures alignment with the University s goals and strategies. Engages in ongoing data collection to ensure that decisions are aligned with best practice.